Cover image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
At A Glance
With Book 2 now condensed into a two day sale, 122 sold on Day 1 in 2025, compared to 59 in 2024 and 81 in 2023.
As a result, the Day 1 aggregate settled at NZ$4,936,000, well up from 2024’s figure of NZ$2,649,000, which had been much lower than the 2023 figure of NZ$3,363,500.
The average of NZ$40,463 is lower than the NZ$44,898 achieved this time 12 months ago and around the same as in 2023 (NZ$41,525). The median fell in 2025 to NZ$30,000 down from NZ$37,500 the year before, but matching the median of 2022 and 2021.
The clearance rate sits at 73 per cent at close of the day is a huge increase on the last few years. 2024 saw a clearance rate of 64 per cent, while Day 1 in 2023 sat at 60 per cent. This is the highest clearance rate for Book 2 Day 1 since the previous peak of 71 per cent in 2020.
The top lot of the day was Lot 855, a filly by Satono Aladdin out of Sparkling Rose bought by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for NZ $260,000 from Brighthill Farm’s draft. This is an increase from the top price at this point last year of NZ$220,000.
Thirteen lots commanded six-figure prices, an increase from seven on the corresponding day last year.
The positive vibe within New Zealand Racing showing its influence
The positive energy surrounding New Zealand racing and the more streamlined nature of this year's catalogue has boosted the clearance rate to a solid 73 per cent - a significant increase from 64 percent last year, despite offering 81 more horses this year. The average price dropped slightly to NZ$40,463 from last year's NZ$44,949.
Local buyers have shown strong involvement in 2025 at the top end, with only one of the top four lots purchased by overseas clients. Well-known judge John Foote purchased Lot 686, a Noverre (NZ) colt, for NZ$130,000 for Hong Kong clients. There were also another nine other colts priced at NZ$100,000, with five of those bought by local buyers.
Gallery: Lot 686 - Noverre (NZ) x La Jolie Fille (NZ) (colt), images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Thirteen lots this year fetched a price of NZ$100,000 or more which was a substantial increase from the seven that sold on the corresponding day last year.
The trend of fillies leading the top lots continued, with the Satono Aladdin (Jpn) filly topping the sale at NZ$260,000, followed by the Ace High filly at NZ$145,000.
Satono Aladdin filly 'wouldn’t have been out of place in Book 1'
The Te Akau team, after making 26 purchases throughout Book 1, returned to make a significant buy on Day 2, securing Lot 855, an outstanding daughter of Satono Aladdin (Jpn) from Brighthill Farm.
The filly has already generated substantial interest and Te Akau’s David Ellis praised her as a standout.
“I was delighted to buy this filly today, and the demand that we’ve already had for shares in her just shows what a quality filly she is,” Ellis said.
“She wouldn’t have been out of place in Book 1. We’ve already sold 80 per cent of the shares in her.”
“She (Lot 855) wouldn’t have been out of place in Book 1. We’ve already sold 80 per cent of the shares in her.” - David Ellis
Ellis also pointed to her strong pedigree, “Having a classy 2-year-old like Too Sweet as a full-sister is a tremendous advertisement for her, but I also thought she was just an outstanding individual in her own right. She stood out to me as a filly that would have every chance of making it to the Karaka Millions 2YO this time next year.
“Another thing that stood out to me about this filly today is that she’s closely related to Darci Brahma and Burgundy,” Ellis said. “They both went on to successful careers on the racetrack and at stud, and I’ve always said that Burgundy is the fastest horse we’ve ever had at Te Akau. I wouldn’t be surprised if this filly had some of that brilliance as well.”
Lot 855 - Satono Aladdin (Jpn) x Sparkling Rose (NZ) (filly) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Nick King from Brighthill Farm also commended the filly, “She is just a lovely filly and has handled herself so professionally. We treated her like a Book 1 filly and brought her up to Karaka nine days ago, not too many horses can parade for nine days straight and not miss a beat.”
Kingsclere Stables: Big fans of the Ace High progeny
One of the standout horses was Lot 707, an Ace High filly out of Maenoha (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}) that drew plenty of interest and demanded significant attention. This filly’s dam is a half-sister to Justamaiz (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}), who was successful in the G3 Counties Cup and the G3 Waikato Cup, and Zabisco (NZ) who was successful at Group 3 level in Melbourne. She was purchased by trainers Robert Wellwood and Roger James for NZ$145,000 from Seaton Park.
The filly’s pedigree is deep, with her grandam, Arthena (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}), producing 10 winners and maintaining a perfect strike rate with her winners to runners ratio. Wellwood and James are familiar with Ace High’s potential, having already tasted success with his progeny, including the very promising Dealt With (NZ), who has won twice and last weekend placed third in the R. Listed TAB Karaka Millions 3YO.
Gallery: Lot 707 - Ace High x Maenoha (NZ) (filly), images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Scott Eagleton from Seaton Park was very complimentary, “She has a lovely walk and temperament. I was very realistic with the reserve; I am a seller and set $30,000 even though we were hoping for $60,000 to $70,000. She is in very good hands with Roger and Robert and I'm sure she will do well.”
Wellwood praised the filly when The Thoroughbred Report caught up with him, commenting “We loved her attitude, she had great balance and she had a really good walk.”
“We loved her (Lot 707) attitude, she had great balance and she had a really good walk.” - Robert Wellwood
“She was a lovely filly, her pedigree is strong. She was not to dissimilar to Dealt With, we obviously love the breed. Like him, she has a lovely mix of natural strength and athleticism.”
Speaking of Dealt With, on the back of his great run at Ellerslie, Wellwood said: “he has come through great, he is having a week of R&R at the water treadmill, and then we can work out how we get to the Kiwi. We are in the race which is great so we can play it our own way in terms of how we get there.”
Robert Wellwood | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Clotworthy Team going back to a winning formula
Sean and Emma Clotworthy were thrilled with their successful purchases on Wednesday, following the formula that led them to purchase Willydoit (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), picking up two by the same sire off Westbury Stud.
The very promising gelding, Willydoit, is the early favourite for the upcoming G1 NZ Derby on March 8.
When quizzed by The Thoroughbred Report, Shaun commented that Willydoit was: “Going great, he runs in a rating 75 mile on Saturday at Ellerslie and should be hard to beat. All things going well he will follow the natural progression onto the Avondale Guineas before he gets to Derby Day.”
Willydoit (NZ) | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
On the back of success it was only natural that Team Clotworthy looked back to repeat what has worked in the past.
Emma commented, “Lot 705 was a similar type (to Willydoit), a nice big scopey horse that looked a real 3-year-old type. The Tarzino filly we picked up (Lot 695) was also a nice athletic horse.”
“We really like this type of horse and do target these staying type of races. We also bought a nice Tarzino from last year's sale that we have named Taco from Grangewilliam Stud and he has shown plenty at home.”
“We like the Tarzinos, Redwoods and Shockings.” Emma emphasised, “If you work with them and be patient, if you get to the right point with them, they will work with you and they are tough.”
Gallery: Lots that the Team Clotworthy purchased at the 2025 Karaka Book 2 sale, images courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
As Willydoit continues his march towards potential Group 1 Derby glory, Shaun commented, “After winning a trial impressively, MyRacehorse bought into the horse, its great to make connections and we have now just purchased Lot 286, a nice Contributor for them, which we are very pleased about and it could be a start of a great partnership.”